Xingu River ray (Potamotrygon leopoldi)

General data

Main name: Xingu River ray
Local names: White-blotched river stingray, Polka-dot stingray
Climates: Tropical
Habitat: Freshwater
Native: South America
Distribution: Amazon

Classification

Genus: Potamotrygon - Potamotrygon
Family: Potamotrygonidae - Southamerican freshwater stingrays
Order: Myliobatiformes - Stingrays
Class: Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays
Superclass: Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes

Description

The Xingu River ray, white-blotched river stingray, or polka-dot stingray (Potamotrygon leopoldi) is a species of freshwater fish in the family Potamotrygonidae. It is endemic to the Xingu River basin in Brazil and as such prefers clear waters with rocky bottoms. Potamotrygon leopoldi reaches up to 40 cm (16 in) in disc width, 75 cm (30 in) in total length and 20 kg (44 lb) in weight. Females grow larger than males. It is closely related to the similar P. henlei from the Tocantins River basin and P. albimaculata from the Tapajós River basin. Compared to P. henlei, P. leopoldi is deeper black above and its underparts are mostly brownish-dusky (large white center to underparts of P. henlei). Compared to P. albimaculata, P. leopoldi has fewer and larger yellowish-white spots above. The Xingu river ray is a venomous stingray that contains venom localized at its dentine spine in its tail. The venom toxicity decreases as rays get older.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
- Elasmobranchii - Sharks and Rays->
  - Lamniformes - Mackerel sharks->
  - Carcharhiniformes - Ground sharks->
  - Rhinopristiformes - Shovelnose rays->
  - Torpediniformes - Electric rays->
  - Rajiformes - Skates and rays->
  - Orectolobiformes - Carpet shark->
  - Squatiniformes - Angelsharks->
  - Heterodontiformes - Bullhead and horn sharks->
  - Hexanchiformes - Six-gill sharks->
  - Myliobatiformes - Stingrays->
    
    Dasyatidae - Stingrays->
    
    Mobulidae - Manta rays->
    
    Potamotrygonidae - Southamerican freshwater stingrays->
    
    Potamotrygon - Potamotrygon->
    
    Ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro)
    
    Tiger river stingray (Potamotrygon tigrina)
    
    Giant short-tailed river stingray (Potamotrygon brachyura)
    
    Amanda’s River Stingray (Potamotrygon amandae)
    
    Xingu River ray (Potamotrygon leopoldi)
    
    Potamotrygon adamastor (Potamotrygon adamastor)
    
    Potamotrygon albimaculata (Potamotrygon albimaculata)
    
    Potamotrygon amazona (Potamotrygon amazona)
    
    Potamotrygon boesemani (Potamotrygon boesemani)
    
    Thorny river stingray (Potamotrygon constellata)
    
    Largespot river stingray (Potamotrygon falkneri)
    
    Potamotrygon garmani (Potamotrygon garmani)
    
    Bigtooth river stingray (Potamotrygon henlei)
    
    Porcupine river stingray (Potamotrygon histrix)
    
    Potamotrygon humerosa (Potamotrygon humerosa)
    
    Potamotrygon jabuti (Potamotrygon jabuti)
    
    Potamotrygon limai (Potamotrygon limai)
    
    Magdalena river stingray (Potamotrygon magdalenae)
    
    Potamotrygon marinae (Potamotrygon marinae)
    
    Red-blotched river stingray (Potamotrygon ocellata)
    
    Smooth back river stingray (Potamotrygon orbignyi)
    
    Potamotrygon pantanensis (Potamotrygon pantanensis)
    
    Great freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon rex)
    
    Rosette river stingray (Potamotrygon schroederi)
    
    Potamotrygon schuhmacheri (Potamotrygon schuhmacheri)
    
    Raspy river stingray (Potamotrygon scobina)
    
    Parnaiba river stingray (Potamotrygon signata)
    
    Potamotrygon tatianae (Potamotrygon tatianae)
    
    Potamotrygon wallacei (Potamotrygon wallacei)
    
    Maracaibo river stingray (Potamotrygon yepezi)
    
    Plesiotrygon - Antenna rays->
    
    Heliotrygon - Heliotrygon->
    
    Paratrygon - Paratrygon->
    
    Styracura - Styracura->
    
    Gymnuridae - Butterfly rays->
    
    Myliobatidae - Eagle ray->
    
    Urotrygonidae - American round stingrays->
    
    Aetobatidae - Pacific eagle rays->
    
    Hexatrygonidae - Sixgill stingrays->
    
    Plesiobatidae - Deepwater stingrays->
    
    Rhinopteridae - Cownose rays->
    
    Urolophidae - Round rays->
    
    Zanobatidae - Panrays->
  - Squaliformes - Sleeper and dogfish sharks->
  - Echinorhiniformes - Bramble sharks->
  - Pristiophoriformes - Saw sharks->
- Holocephali - Chimaeras->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->